Taking its name from the Spanish, 'baja mar', which translates as 'shallow sea', the Bahamas or the Commonwealth of the Bahamas as it is officially known, is an archipelago consisting of some 700 islands and cays and is situated in the Atlantic Ocean to the east of Florida in the US and to the north of Cuba. Of those 700 islands, only 12 are significantly developed and populated with New Providence topping the list on both accounts.

Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre
A good day out for all the family can be had at the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre, where hundreds of mammals, birds and reptiles from various parts of the world can be viewed in a beautiful five acre park comprised of half jungle and half gardens. Bahamian boa constrictors, raptors and parrots are paraded by trainers throughout the day while opportunities for photographs are available with many birds and animals. 
Phone: +1 242 323 5806

Junkanoo
Beginning in December but peaking on New Years Day, Junkanoo is a cultural festival that has been compared to Rio’s Carnival and New Orleans' Mardi Gras. Locals take to the streets in brightly coloured costumes to perform ethnic dances to the accompaniment of drums, whistles and cowbells.

With 12 islands in the archipelago offering tourist infrastructures, there’s ample opportunity to partake in a little island hopping and see the best sights that each has to offer. Nassau, as the commonwealth’s capital city, is perhaps the most natural place to start and the point from which you’ll find not only some interesting sights but a variety of activities aimed at tourists.

Air
Nassau International Airport is located just 10 miles from the city centre and is the most significant air gateway into and out of the Bahamas. It’s a small airport with two terminals that handle a relatively large amount of air traffic; the majority of which flies between the Bahamas and the United States, although domestic and other international destinations are also served.

The currency in the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar (B$) which holds the same value as the US dollar. US dollars are in fact, widely accepted across the islands, although it’s wise to have local currency as well. Notes can be found in denominations of B$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1, and 50 cents while coins comes in 25, 15, 10, 5 and 1 cents.